Lei Hua woke up the next morning with a swollen face, dry throat, and a
blanket wrapped around her neck like a snake.
She groaned.
"Why do I keep fainting?!"
[ SYSTEM: Host's body is weak. ]
"OH THANK YOU FOR THE INSULT."
[ SYSTEM: You are welcome. ]
Lei Hua nearly threw her pillow.
—
### Trouble Begins
Downstairs, the entire family sat at the long table.
Lei Rong stared across the room with gentle eyes…
…which were lying.
Lei Hua could FEEL the evil energy.
*"Look at her pretending to be a lotus… she's more like a poisonous mushroom."*
Lady Ming blinked.
"…Anyone else hear mushrooms?"
Lei Rong gripped her spoon: "WHO—"
Lei Yue entered the room.
Everyone shut up instantly.
Cold, sharp, elegant.
She sat down with the calmness of someone who could defeat an army alone.
Lei Hua bowed.
Lei Yue raised an eyebrow.
"You don't need to bow. It looks strange."
Lei Hua sat back down.
*"She's so pretty AND scary… what kind of cheat code is this?"*
Lei Yue's fingers paused slightly.
"You're noisy again."
Lei Hua clutched her chest.
—
### Lei Rong's Plan
After breakfast, Lei Rong walked toward Lei Hua with a smile so sweet
it could rot teeth.
"Sister, Father wants you to help with the storeroom accounts."
Lei Hua brightened.
"Oh! Something simple!"
Lei Rong smiled deeper.
"Mm. Very simple."
*"Yes. Simple like a trap! You evil cabbage!"*
Three servants glanced around.
Lei Hua froze.
Oops.
Lei Yue turned her head slightly.
Her voice was calm, deadly:
"…Rong, what are you planning?"
Lei Rong almost fainted.
"I-I'm not planning anything!!"
Lei Yue narrowed her eyes.
"Do not waste my time."
Lei Rong gulped.
But she still insisted:
"S-Sister Hua just needs to check the storage boxes… just that…"
Lei Hua frowned.
*"Why does that sound like a horror mission?"*
Lei Yue stood.
"I will come."
Lei Rong's face cracked.
"Why?!"
Lei Yue answered without emotion.
"Hua is too foolish to walk alone."
Lei Hua dramatically clutched her chest.
"My heart—!!!"
Lei Yue ignored her.
—
### The Trap
The storage house was dark, dusty, and suspiciously quiet.
Lei Hua stepped in nervously.
"Sister Rong… what exactly do you want me to check—"
**CRACK—!!**
The wooden beam above suddenly snapped.
A large, heavy storage box dropped straight toward Lei Hua.
Lei Hua screamed:
"AAAAA— I'M TOO YOUNG TO DIE!!"
Lei Yue moved faster than a flash.
With one arm, she grabbed Lei Hua's waist and pulled her out.
The box smashed into the ground behind them.
BOOM!!
Dust exploded everywhere.
Lei Hua coughed violently.
Lei Yue glared at the fallen beam.
"Someone loosened the ropes."
Lei Hua pointed shakily.
"S-S-Sister Rong invited me here—!!"
Lei Rong shook her head violently.
"I—I didn't do it! I swear! I—"
*"LIES! LIES! LIES! Your face is a liar!"*
Lei Yue's eyes turned cold.
"You have one chance to speak the truth."
Lei Rong dropped to her knees.
"I—I didn't mean to kill her!"
Lei Hua: "YOU DID TRY?!"
Lei Rong burst into tears.
"I—I only wanted to scare her!"
Lei Hua wanted to throw her shoe.
"WHY WOULD YOU TRY TO SCARE ME WITH DEATH?!"
—
### Punishment
That evening, the family gathered.
Lei Ming slammed his palm on the table.
"Rong'er! How could you endanger your sister?!"
Lei Rong cried dramatically.
"I DIDN'T MEAN TO! I—I JUST HATE HER—"
Lei Hua gasped.
*"Wow. She admitted it. In front of everyone. How bold."*
Lady Ming sighed.
"Rong'er, you have disappointed this family again."
Lei Tian crossed his arms.
"You're jealous because Hua is funnier than you."
Lei Rong exploded.
"SHE IS NOT FUNNY— SHE'S ANNOYING—"
Lei Yue interrupted.
"Quiet."
The room froze.
Lei Yue turned to Father Lei Ming.
"She cannot stay in this house."
Lei Rong fell to the floor.
"N-no! Sister Yue— I'm family too!"
Lei Yue's expression didn't change.
"You were adopted. You owe the Lei family gratitude, not schemes."
Lei Rong trembled.
"You can't kick me out…"
Lei Yue's voice was ice:
"You almost killed someone. Leave."
Father Lei Ming looked at his wife.
Lady Ming nodded.
Lei Ming exhaled heavily.
"Rong'er… you will leave by tomorrow morning."
Lei Rong screamed.
The servants dragged her away as she shouted, cried, begged.
Lei Hua watched in shock.
*"Did… did Yue just solve my biggest problem in one sentence?"*
Lei Yue walked past her.
"Stay out of trouble."
Lei Hua nodded like a chicken.
"Yes! Yes! I won't even breathe loudly!"
Lei Yue paused.
"…You already do."
"HUH?!"
—
### The Court Summons
Later that night, Father Lei Ming called Lei Hua aside.
"Hua'er… the Emperor has summoned you."
Lei Hua almost fainted.
"M-Me?! WHY?!"
"Someone reported that you revealed corruption this week."
Lei Hua screamed internally.
*"NOOO! THOSE WERE ACCIDENTAL THOUGHTS— NOT INTENTIONS—"*
Father Lei sighed.
"Hua'er… the Emperor wants to test your ability."
Lei Hua clutched her head.
"I'm dead."
Lei Yue stepped out from behind the corridor.
"You are not."
Lei Hua turned to her with sparkling eyes.
"Sister Yue… help me!"
Lei Yue looked down at her.
"Do you want to survive?"
"Yes!"
"Then do exactly what I say tomorrow."
Lei Hua nodded rapidly.
"Okay!!"
Lei Yue crossed her arms.
"Good. Because the real enemies have already started moving."
Lei Hua froze.
"Real… enemies?"
Lei Yue looked toward the dark night beyond the window.
Her voice dropped, cold, sharp, powerful:
"They're watching us."
Lei Hua shivered.
Suddenly—
**[SYSTEM WARNING: ENEMY MOVEMENT DETECTED.]**
Lei Hua's pulse jumped.
Lei Yue turned to her and said quietly:
"Stay close to me."
Lei Hua whispered:
"…Yes, Queen."
Lei Yue raised an eyebrow.
"Queen?"
Lei Hua smiled nervously.
*"More like a demon queen but I'll still bow happily."*
Lei Yue sighed.
"You're hopeless."
Lei Hua beamed.
The night wind blew violently outside.
The game had only just begun.